Carrier for a collapsible table



June 18, 1957 F. PHILLIPS 2,795,210

CARRIER FOR A COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Filed April 15, 1955 United States Patent CARRIER FOR A COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Lewis F. Phillips, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 15, 1955, Serial No. 501,595

7 Claims. (Cl. 224-45) 7 The present invention relates to a carrying device, and, more particularly, pertains to a device especially adapted to carry a collapsible table or the like. I

It is an object of this invention to provide an integral carrying device which is readily fabricated from cardboard, plastic or other substantially rigid material and which enables a disassembled collapsible table or the like to be carried in a secure and facile manner.

The subject device has large surface areas on which advertising and explanatory matter may be printed for the information of the buying public. Therefore, it is another object of this invention to provide a carrying device which is well adapted for display purposes.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a carrying device which affords adequate protection to the object carried, preventing scratching and scoring thereof when allowed to lie on a plane surface or when disposed in an upright position.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a novel carrying device which may be utilized when storing the article carried, whereby a minimum of storage space is used.

The above and further objects will become more apparent from the following description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

In one embodiment of the invention a substantially rigid sheet fabricated of cardboard, plastic or other preferably lightweight material having advertising or other explanatory matter printed or aflixed on one surface thereof is cut into a blank having a predetermined substantially triangular configuration, although blanks of other configurations having the details of construction hereinafter to be outlined in greater detail will work to equal advantage. The same cutting stroke which forms the triangular carrying piece simultaneously forms three slots in predetermined relationship, and also forms two apertured tab members which are oppositely disposed. The tab-members are adapted to be bent into two bracketlike members whereby rod members may be held thereby at opposed rod end portions.

One of the slots formed in the blank is disposed parallel to an edge of said blank and at such a distance from the edge as to be readily manually engaged and enables the integral blank to be carried in a facile manner. The remaining slots are disposed one above the other and have their central portions in substantial axial alignment with the slot disposed near the blank edge. The article to be carried by the subject carrying device should be flat and uniplanar and of thin cross section and is wedged in the lowermost slot whereby passage therethrough is prevented. The upper slot should be of greater width than the lower slot and functions in conjunction with the underlying slot to define a central retaining blank portion which acts to sandwhich the planar object carried by the device against the top and bottom portions of the blank.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein Patented June 18, 1957 Figure l is a top plan view of the carrier provided by this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the carrier illustrated in Fig. 1 having the legs and top of a collapsible table assembled therewith;

Fig. 3 is a transverse-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4 is an axial-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a collapsible table, the parts of which are illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4 in the assembled positioned.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, a carrier 10 is illustrated comprising a thin sheet of substantially rigid lightweight material, such as cardboard, plastic or other similar inexpensive material which may be cut from a larger strip. Simultaneously efiected with the cutting operation, a plurality of slots are formed in the sheet. In addition, apertured tab members are also cut in the sheet 10 which remain integral with the sheet atone end.

As will be noted from Fig. l, the sheet 10 has a general triangular configuration and has formed integrally and centrally disposed on one side thereof a hand-engaging portion 12. The latter portion has an elongated flap 14 cut therefrom which may be folded along dotted line 16 so as to form an elongated slot 13. The latter slot may be readily engaged manually, thereby enabling the entire unit to be carried in a facile manner. If desired, the elongated flap 14 may be completely punched out of the hand-engaging portion 12.

A collapsible table to be carried by the lightweight sheet 10 is illustrated in Fig. 5 and comprises a triangular table top portion 18 and a plurality of leg members 20 which are pivotally engaged to an encircling collar 44. Each of the legs is removably affixed to clips, positioned on the undersurface of the table top 18, at one end.

Referring once again to Fig. 1, it will be noted that slots 22 and 24 are formed in substantially the central portion of the sheet 10. In the course of the cutting operation, it will be further noted that the two slots 22 and 24 form a sheet portion 26 which may be slightly raised from the remainder of the sheet, forming a pentagonal sheet section, whereby the insertion of the table top 18 into the slot 22 and out the lower slot 24 is facilifated.

The relationship between the table top 18 and the sheet 10 in the complete assembly is clearly shown in Fig. 2. It is apparent that in the normal assembled position the table top 18 has one triangular corner portion in-, serted through both slots so as to wedge itself along its sides in the lower slot 24 and thereby become securely afiixed to the entire sheet 10 and stabilized against lateral.

movement by virtue of the sandwiching action effected on the table top between the central sheet portion 26 and the remainder of the sheet 10.

To effect engagement between the upper end limits of the legs 20 and the table top 18, bracket members are affixed to the undersurface of the table top at the corner portions thereof. One of these members 23 is shown in Fig. 4 aflixed to one triangular portion of the table top. To assist the initial insertion of one of the triangular portions of the table top, which portion will eventually become wedged in the lower slot 24, slot 22 has an enlarged portion 34! which facilitates the insertion of the table top portion and attached clip 28 behind the central sheet portion 26. Lower slot 24 is also enlarged at 32 to accommodate a clip 28, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The other two clip members 28 aflixed to the triangular corner portions of the table top 18 will remain out of.

contact with the sheet 10, as will be apparent from Fig. 2.

The means provided on the carrier sheet for the legs are the opposed tab members 34 which are cut from the sheet 10 in the initial one-stroke, cutting or blanking operation. Following the cutting stroke, a blank such as is illustrated in Fig. 1 results, and the tabs 34 are then manipulated to assume the configuration illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 by pushing the enlarged distal end limits 36 of the tabs inwardly and bending the tabs along dotted lines 38, whereby they will assume the V-shaped configuration illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The enlarged end limits 36 lock the end limits of the tab members to the slots 40 which locking is effected when the tab members are pushed inwardly and bent, as is clearlyshown in Figs. 2 and 3. Having assumed the V-shaped configuration, the tab members are thus seen to function as opposed bracket members enabling the elongated leg members 20 to be inserted through apertures 42 formed in each tab member. As will be noted from Fig. 3, the rods 20 have an encircling collar 44 which contacts the central sheet portion 26 and enables the bracket or tab members .34 to engage the leg members 20 under tension whereby slippage by the legs 20 through apertures 42 is avoided. The legs 20 are thus held in tight engagement with the sheet 10 by virtue of the tension exerted by the tab members 34.

It is obvious from Fig. 2 that the central sheet portion 26 is readily adaptable for use as advertising space disclosing relevant matter which pertains to the collapsible table and which is readily apparent to the buying public. It will also be noted from Fig. 3 that when placed on a fiat surface no part of the table top surface will contact the surface on which it is positioned. Consequently, it is apparent that the carrier 10 affords not only a ready and eflicient means for carrying the disassembled collapsible table but, in addition, provides pro tection for the same when not in use. The carrier 10 may be used as a storage means for the disassembled table as it takes up a minimum of storage space as will be noted in the various figures illustrated.

It is thus apparent that a novel carrying device for a collapsible table or the like has been presented which is economical to manufacture and which provides a means for easily carrying all components of a collapsible table.

As has been above explained, carrier 10 also protects the table components and provides ample advertising space, and presents a pleasing appearance when placed on display.

Although one embodiment of the carrying device 10 has been illustrated which is of substantially triangular configuration, it should be noted that other configurations may be used to equal advantage. The exact positioning and form of the L-shaped slot 22 and slot 24 are not of critical importance, as their function is essentially to form a central sheet portion 26 which will coact with the remainder of the sheet 10 to sandwich and wedge a planar member therebetween. Similarly, the tab or bracket members 34 may be positioned other than as shown on the sheet surface. It is suggested, however, that they remain parallel to the hand-engaging portion 12 for obvious reasons of balance.

It is clear from the foregoing that many modifications may be utilized in the illustrated carrier constructionwhich will not withdraw the resulting carrier construction from the ambit of the inventive concept herein disclosed. I, therefore, wish to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable carrying device adapted to carry a collapsible table or the like, comprising a sheet of substantially rigid material having a longitudinal opening disposed substantially parallel and adjacent to one edge of said carrying device, two opposed apertured bracket portions formed integrally with said sheet disposed substantially parallel to said longitudinal opening, and two slotlike portions formed in said carrying device disposed beneath said longitudinal opening and in substantial alignment therewith.

2. A portable carrying device adapted to carry a collapsible table or the like comprising a substantially rigid sheet of lightweight material having a slotted portion disposed adjacent one edge ofsaid device and substantially parallel thereto, a raised central portion slotted at two end limits which end limits are in substantial alignment with said slotted portion, and two opposed tab portions having enlarged distal end limits disposed on either side of said slotted portion, each of said tab portions having two apertures, the apertures of both tab portions being adapted to be in alignment when said tab portions are folded at their central portions.

3. A portable carrying device comprising hand engageable means centrally positioned on one edge of said device whereby said device may be carried by hand in a facile manner, rod-engaging means disposed beneath and on either side of said hand engageable means, tableengaging means disposed beneath said hand engageable means and interposed between said rod-engaging means, said table-engaging means being adapted to securely engage a table member by wedging action; said hand engageable means, said rod-engaging means and said tableengaging means being formed integrally with said carrying device.

4. A portable carrying device for a collapsible table or the like comprising a triangular sheet of substantially rigid material, hand-engaging means centrally disposed on one edge of said triangular sheet and having a centrally disposed longitudinal slot disposed therein whereby said sheet may be manually grasped and carried in a facile manner, oppositely disposed bracket members formed integrally with said sheet having enlarged distal end limits, said distal end limits being reciprocally movable in the slot defining said bracket members and being locked to said slot when said bracket members are centrally bent and have their distal end limits pushed inwardly, a substantially L-shaped slot disposed beneath said hand-engaging means having the juncture of the arms of said slot disposed toward said hand-engaging means and the end limits of the arms of said L-shaped slot disposed in opposed downward directions, and a second slot disposed beneath said L- shaped slot and substantially parallel to the slot in said hand-engaging means.

5. A carrying device for a collapsible table or the like comprising an integral sheet having a hand-engaging portion disposed on one edge of said device, said portion having a longitudinal opening disposed parallel to one edge of said device and in proximity thereto, two slots laterally traversing said device interposed between said hand-engaging portion and an opposed end limit of said device, said slots defining a central sheet portion, said slot disposed closer to said hand-engaging portion having end. limits spanning a greater width of said sheet than the width spanned by the end limits of said slot disposed further from said hand-engaging portion.

6. A carrying device for a collapsible table or the like comprising an integral sheet of deformable material having a hand-engaging portion disposed on one edge of said device, said portion having a longitudinal opening disposed parallel to one edge of said device and in proximity thereto, tWo slots laterally traversing said device defining a central sheet portion, said central portion being slightly raised from the plane of the remainder of said device, and bracket members hingedly engaged to said sheet disposed at opposed lateral end portions of said sheet and lying in a plane parallel to said longitudinal opening in said hand-engaging portion.

7. A carrying device for a collapsible table or the like comprising hand-engaging means disposed adjacent one edge of said carrying device, said hand-engaging means being adapted to be readily grasped whereby said device may be carried in a facile manner, a pentagonal central raised portion, the central longitudinal axis of said central portion being substantially coaxial With the longitudinal axis of said carrying device, the highest angle of said pentagon being disposed adjacent said handengaging means, the base side of said pentagon being 10 disposed substantially parallel to said hand-engaging means, slots defining three sides of said pentagon, the unslotted sides of said pentagon comprising opposed sides joining two contiguous slot sides to a base slot, and oppositely disposed bendable tab means aligned normal 5 to the vertical axis of said device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

